Bollebozen is bol’s social impact initiative. With books and technology at the heart of bol’s DNA, Bollebozen is committed to equal opportunities by encouraging a love of reading and strengthening children’s digital skills, helping to broaden their world. SpaceBuzz, an initiative by astronaut André Kuipers, enables children to experience Earth through the “overview effect”: the perspective from space that offers a completely new way of seeing our planet.

Together, they have developed an educational program in which children learn through reading missions about ecosystems, human impact and the changing Earth. Over the course of six weeks, they explore the world through reading. The VR experience of the SpaceBuzz rocket forms a spectacular highlight of the program. The goal is to increase equal opportunities for children growing up below the poverty line by giving them the tools to better understand the world around them and find their own path within it.

Hente van den Boom, manager of Bollebozen: “Reading is a superpower every child needs to fully participate in society. Together with SpaceBuzz, we create reading missions full of adventure and discovery, making reading more enjoyable while giving children an unforgettable new perspective on the world. It’s truly special that, together with André Kuipers, we can bring this to children for whom such experiences are far from a given.”

From rocket experience to reading mission
The SpaceBuzz rocket’s visit to the schoolyard marks the starting point of the reading missions. With the astronaut’s perspective still fresh in their minds, children take that feeling back into the classroom, where reading missions based on The Big Book of Our Remarkable Earth deepen the experience.

During the reading missions, children explore texts from the book, discuss them together and make connections. In small groups, they dive deeper into the material: analysing an ecosystem, mapping out cause-and-effect relationships, or investigating the impact of humans on Earth—and sharing their findings with the class. By engaging with reading assignments in a playful way, children learn how our planet is constantly changing and what their own impact on the world can be. Each child receives a copy of the book to take home, so the joy of reading continues beyond the classroom.

An experience that lasts
Research shows that a virtual reality journey into space can trigger the so-called “overview effect” in children aged 10 to 12, a profound shift in awareness and perspective similar to what astronauts experience when viewing Earth from space. This leads children to feel a deeper sense of wonder and to see the planet as one interconnected yet fragile whole, of which they themselves are an important part.

For children who, due to their home environment, have less access to broad and inspiring experiences, such a virtual space journey can make a significant difference. It enhances their sense of possibility, builds confidence, and helps them see themselves as part of something bigger.

The SpaceBuzz rocket on tour
The tour kicked off on April 13 and will travel for six weeks to twenty primary schools across the country. The official press launch took place on April 14 in Haarlem, attended by André Kuipers. Later this year, the tour will expand to eight additional schools in Belgium.

Read more about Bollebozen here.